System and method for activating an analyte monitoring system

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a power activation module for powering one or more wearable electronic components. The power activation module includes a switch configured to provide a path for current flow between a battery associated with the power activation module, the one or more wearable electronic components, and a ground terminal. The power activation module also includes a sensor configured to detect whether a signal is applied to the sensor and, based on the detection, output a first digital output signal for controlling, at least in part, the switch to control the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components. The power activation module also includes a lock pin configured to receive a lock signal, wherein when the lock signal is received, the switch is locked to allow current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power activation module for powering one or more wearable electronic components, comprising:
 a switch configured to provide a power path for current flow between a battery associated with the power activation module, the one or more wearable electronic components, and a ground terminal; 
 a sensor configured to detect whether a signal is applied to the sensor and, based on the detection, output a first digital output signal for controlling, at least in part, the switch to control the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and 
 a lock pin configured to receive, on a path different from the power path, a lock signal to disable the sensor, wherein when the lock signal is received, the switch is locked to allow current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components after the one or more wearable electronic components are powered on. 
 
     
     
       2. The power activation module of  claim 1 , wherein the first digital output signal from the sensor comprises:
 a first low digital output signal when the sensor detects that the signal is applied to the sensor; and 
 a first high digital output signal when the sensor detects that the signal is not applied to the sensor. 
 
     
     
       3. The power activation module of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bias generator component configured to output a reference voltage; and 
 a comparator component configured to:
 receive the first digital output signal from the sensor and the reference voltage from the bias generator component; 
 compare a voltage of the first digital output signal with the reference voltage received from the bias generator component; and 
 output a second digital output signal comprising:
 a second low digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is less than the reference voltage; and 
 a second high digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is greater than the reference voltage. 
 
 
 
     
     
       4. The power activation module of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a control logic component configured to:
 receive an input signal, wherein the input signal is based on at least one of the second digital output signal from the comparator component or the lock signal from the lock pin; 
 output a first drive signal via a first output terminal; and 
 output a second drive signal; and 
 
 a charge pump component configured to:
 receive the second drive signal from the control logic component; and 
 output a third drive signal via a second output terminal. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The power activation module of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the switch comprises a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch including, at least, a first transistor and a second transistor; 
 the first transistor is configured to control the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and 
 the second transistor is configured to control the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal. 
 
     
     
       6. The power activation module of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the second output terminal of the charge pump component and configured to receive the third drive signal; 
 a drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the battery; and 
 a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the one or more wearable electronic components. 
 
     
     
       7. The power activation module of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the first output terminal of the control logic component; 
 a drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the source terminal of the first transistor and the one or more wearable electronic components; and 
 a source terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the ground terminal. 
 
     
     
       8. The power activation module of  claim 5 , wherein, when the sensor detects that the signal is not applied to the sensor, the sensor is configured to control the SPDT switch to allow the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components to power on the one or more wearable electronic components. 
     
     
       9. The power activation module of  claim 5 , wherein the control logic component is further configured to:
 receive a power down signal; and 
 in response to the power down signal:
 control the first transistor, via the second drive signal and the charge pump component, to stop the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and 
 control the second transistor, via the first drive signal, to permit the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The power activation module of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wearable electronic components are further configured to:
 detect a power down signal; 
 in response to the power down signal, prepare the one or more wearable electronic components for power down; and 
 after the one or more wearable electronic components are prepared for power down, stop outputting the lock signal. 
 
     
     
       11. The power activation module of  claim 10 , wherein:
 one or more wearable electronic components includes a microcontroller; 
 the microcontroller is configured to monitor a magnetic field output signal from the sensor during a period of time; and 
 when, during the period of time, the magnetic field output signal from the sensor is greater than a magnetic field threshold for a threshold amount of time, the microcontroller is configured to output the power down signal and cause one or more wearable electronic components to stop outputting the lock signal. 
 
     
     
       12. The power activation module of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor comprises one of a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor or a near-field communication (NFC) sensor; and 
 the signal comprises a magnetic field. 
 
     
     
       13. A method for operating a power activation module for powering one or more wearable electronic components, comprising:
 detecting, by a sensor of the power activation module, whether a signal is applied to the sensor; and 
 outputting, from the sensor, a first digital output signal for controlling, at least in part, a switch to control current flow from a battery to the one or more wearable electronic components, wherein the switch is configured to provide a power path for the current flow between the battery associated with the power activation module, the one or more wearable electronic components, and a ground terminal; and 
 detecting whether a lock signal is received at a lock pin of the power activation module on a path different from the power path, wherein when the lock signal is received; 
 the sensor is disabled; and 
 the switch is locked to allow current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components after the one or more wearable electronic components are powered on. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first digital output signal from the sensor comprises:
 a first low digital output signal when, based on the detecting, the signal is applied to the sensor; and 
 a first high digital output signal when, based on the detecting, the signal is not applied to the sensor. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 outputting, from a bias generator component of the power activation module, a reference voltage; 
 receiving, by a comparator component of the power activation module, the first digital output signal from the sensor and the reference voltage from the bias generator component; 
 comparing, by the comparator component, a voltage of the first digital output signal with the reference voltage received from the bias generator component; 
 outputting, by the comparator component, a second digital output signal comprising:
 a second low digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is less than the reference voltage; and 
 a second high digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is greater than the reference voltage. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving, by a control logic component of the power activation module, an input signal, wherein the input signal is based on at least one of the second digital output signal from the comparator component or the lock signal from the lock pin; 
 outputting, by the control logic component, a first drive signal via a first output terminal; 
 outputting, by the control logic component, a second drive signal; 
 receiving, by a charge pump component of the power activation module, the second drive signal from the control logic component; and 
 outputting, by a charge pump component, a third drive signal via a second output terminal. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 controlling, by a first transistor of the switch, the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components, wherein the switch comprises a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch including at least the first transistor and a second transistor; and 
 controlling, by the second transistor, the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the second output terminal of the charge pump component and configured to receive the third drive signal; 
 a drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the battery; and 
 a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the one or more wearable electronic components. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the first output terminal of the control logic component; 
 a drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the source terminal of the first transistor and the one or more wearable electronic components; and 
 a source terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the ground terminal. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising controlling the SPDT switch to allow the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components to power on the one or more wearable electronic components when, based on the detecting, the signal is not applied to the sensor. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the control logic component, a power down signal; and 
 in response to the power down signal:
 controlling, by the control logic component, the first transistor, via the second drive signal and the charge pump component, to stop the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and 
 controlling, by the control logic component, the second transistor, via the first drive signal, to permit the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising
 detecting, by the wearable electronic components, a power down signal; 
 preparing, by the wearable electronic components, the one or more wearable electronic components for power down in response to the power down signal; and 
 stopping, by the wearable electronic components, outputting the lock signal after the one or more wearable electronic components are prepared for power down. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 monitoring, by a microcontroller of the one or more wearable electronic components, a magnetic field output signal from the sensor during a period of time; and 
 outputting, by the microcontroller, the power down signal and causing the one or more wearable electronic components to stop outputting the lock signal when, during the period of time, the magnetic field output signal from the sensor is greater than a magnetic field threshold for a threshold amount of time. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the sensor comprises one of a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor or a near-field communication (NFC) sensor; and 
 the signal comprises a magnetic field.